Contacting the Branch

If you have any questions or need any support please contact the Branch Office

 contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Or you can call 020 8359 2088, if we are unable to answer the telephone please leave a message speaking slowly and clearly please include your name, telephone number, membership number and a brief message about the assistance you require. We will respond as soon as we can.

Alternatively you can contact UNISON Direct Call Centre by telephone 

08000 857 857 Monday – Friday 6am – Midnight, Saturday 9am – 4pm

or make an online enquiry by clicking the following link

https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/online-enquiries/

To Join UNISON click the following link 

https://join.unison.org.uk/

UNISON response to Barnet Council’s Restructure Proposals 2024/25

Barnet UNISON has, since September 2024, proposed financial savings which we believe should be tried before any of these other posts are deleted. To date we have had no response and instead our members’ jobs and services are now at risk.

Please see our budget saving recommendations below:

To view our report please click on the link below

UNISON response to Barnet Councils Restructure Proposals 2024

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/UNISON-response-to-Barnet-Councils-Restructure-Proposals-2024.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

Social Care to wait until 2028. No thanks this is not good enough

Our care workers can’t wait for another review.
Politicians keep promising to deliver a fair system where care workers will be recognised for the professional role they provide in the delivery of critical care services.
The recent annoucement by Health Secretary Wes Streeting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c791gyx2n50o is simply not good enough.
He is kicking the ‘social care’ can down the road.
Our members need this change NOW.

End.

John Sullivan, Father, husband, Barnet resident and grassroots local hero ‘Rest in Peace’

Source: The above video is John Sullivan speaking at the UK Covid Inquiry in 2024.

 

Dear Barnet UNISON members

I want to inform you of the passing of John Sullivan.

John was a Barnet resident and a true friend of Barnet UNISON and the services our members provided for residents of the London Borough of Barnet.

I have known John, Ida (John’s wife) and Susan (John’s daughter) for almost 30 years. I first met him when Barnet UNISON was fighting the closure of Etchingham Park Day Centre. John was an ardent advocate for his community. He would fight tooth and nail for you if he believed it was the right thing to do.

Over the years John has supported Barnet UNISON members across a number of campaigns such as the Fremantle care worker dispute, the One Barnet outsourcing campaign, Your Choice Barnet campaign and sadly, most recently, the fight for justice for those who lost loved ones during the COVID pandemic.

He has stood on Barnet UNISON picket lines, taken part in demonstrations, spoken out in countless public meetings, often calling out politicians who were failing those who most need public services.

It was an honour and privilege to have known John and his family.

My last comment is to direct Barnet UNISON members to the link to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry where John gave evidence about what happened to his daughter who died early on in the pandemic.

The fact that he found the mental and physical strength to take part and give evidence is a testament to the unique person John was.

I am also providing a link to the whole inquiry.

You can watch John give evidence 4 hours and 20 minutes into the inquiry

https://www.youtube.com/live/UyJfu8wOxco?si=-ZjW8QmnXm1DDN8s

Below are some links to John’s contribution to fighting for public services:

 

How Barnet Eye guest blogger John Sullivan moved LBC’s James O’Brien to tears

https://barneteye.blogspot.com/2021/05/how-barnet-eye-guest-blogger-john.html

 

My Susan was allowed to die of Covid because she had Down’s syndrome, father says

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/daughter-died-covid-downs-syndrome-2970056?srsltid=AfmBOorB1oe6ouWHbr2bFmdOF1h3MDqlGFo-WbIqRMXag5ngOlHmeKsI

 

Barnet UNISON Pays Tribute to The Little Chief, Susan Sullivan

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2020/03/30/barnet-unison-pays-tribute-to-the-little-chief-susan-sullivan/

 

JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGE TO PRIVATISATION OF BARNET COUNCIL SERVICES LAUNCHED

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2012/12/07/judicial-review-challenge-to-privatisation-of-barnet-council-services-launched/

 

Your Choice Barnet – John Sullivan’s statement read by Barbara Jacobson 27.11.2013

https://youtu.be/0IsKGHwp0kU?feature=shared

 

YOUR CHOICE BARNET CARE WORKERS CAMPAIGN

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015.01.15.%20YCB%20FLYER%20PUBLIC.pdf

 

CapitaVille song – sung by John Sullivan

https://youtu.be/-MZYbxk2Ssg?feature=shared

 

Legal Challenge to One Barnet

https://youtu.be/etOSBzuN1LM?feature=shared

 

Rest in Peace John.

 

Solidarity

 

John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.

 

 

Over £1 million back in the pockets of our lowest paid: School Support Staff

Barnet UNISON is proud to announce that over a five-year period of constant chasing and negotiations we have managed to reach agreements with schools and some employers e.g. Barnet & Southgate College, Capita, ISS, BELS to ensure that Term Time Paid staff received some backdating money they were owed by their employer not using the correct formula to calculate their pay.

Barnet UNISON wants to thank colleagues at London Region and UNISON HQ for supporting the campaign to claw back some of the money that was owed to our members.

The Term Time Pay claim started because of UNISON pursuing several local authorities over their failure to use the correct formula for calculating pay of term time staff in schools.

Barnet UNISON quickly wrote to over 50 schools in Barnet seeking meetings and the opportunity to talks to our members about the campaign. We also discovered some of the outsourced contractors were using an incorrect formula and we pursued those organisations to correct the error and to negotiate back pay.

 

“As soon as UNISON established that term time only staff (TTO) were being incorrectly paid due to a flawed formula being applied in calculating the amount of holiday pay entitlement members were receiving we commenced on going meetings with management to rectify the situation. After several years of negotiations, we resulted with a positive outcome and agreement that the College would apply a new and correct formula to calculate their holiday pay entitlement.  I was pleased to announce to my TTO UNISON members that a settlement had been finally agreed and that all the College’s term time staff would receive back pay to 1 September 2019 ( 3 years) which resulted in approximately £200,000 total back pay deal for TTO staff. I informed my members that this was not compensation, that it was backpay as they had been underpaid for the work that they had already done.  This is a good example of why it is important to join UNISON as it provides collective strength and means we can talk to the employer to negotiate and improve conditions in the workplace.” Christalla Tsattala Barnet UNISON rep of members of staff working for Barnet & Southgate College.

 

“It was a massive team effort across the UNISON family with support and advice from both regional and national colleagues. School support staff are some of the lowest paid members we have in our branch, and they are totally committed to their work and the children they support. It was important that our branch took on this campaign and we would recommend any other UNISON branch thinking of doing the same to go ahead. We are in a cost-of-living crisis which is hurting our low paid members every penny we have helped put back into their pockets makes all the work worthwhile.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.

 

Background:

Term Time Pay members meeting – February 2021

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2021/02/19/term-time-pay-members-meeting/

 

Update on the Barnet UNISON Term Time Pay Campaign – 2020

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2020/12/09/update-on-the-barnet-unison-term-time-pay-campaign/

 

Term Time Pay Drop-in meetings: February 2020

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2020/02/07/term-time-pay-drop-in-meetings/

End.

 

Barnet UNISON NSL members time to end the cycle of low pay!

The Impact of Low Pay on Workers

Low pay is a significant issue affecting our outsourced members. When wages do not meet basic living standards, our low paid members face numerous challenges that can have long-lasting effects on their well-being and quality of life. The call by Barnet UNISON for a campaign to increase the minimum wage to £15 per hour is not just a matter of financial fairness but a necessity to ensure dignity and stability for our members who deliver public services on behalf of Barnet Council.

Financial Strain

Many of our outsourced members are earning less than £15 per hour struggle to cover essential expenses like housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. This financial strain often leads to debt accumulation as individuals are forced to rely on credit to make ends meet. Over time, this cycle of debt can become crippling, limiting opportunities for economic growth and social mobility.

Health and Well-being

Living under constant financial pressure can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Stress from trying to manage limited resources can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Additionally, our outsourced members on low pay may not be able to afford healthcare, leading to untreated medical conditions and poorer overall health.

Limited Opportunities

Low wages often mean that outsourced members are unable to invest in education or skills development, which limits their career advancement opportunities. This lack of investment in personal growth can result in workers being trapped in low-paying jobs, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and limiting their potential to achieve a better quality of life.

Why our Barnet UNISON Pay Campaign is Essential

1. Economic Fairness

A campaign to raise the minimum wage to £15 per hour is a step toward economic fairness. It ensures that outsourced members receive compensation that reflects the true cost of living and acknowledges their contributions to the economy. Fair pay helps bridge the gap between different socioeconomic groups, fostering a more equitable society.

2. Boosting the Economy

Increasing wages can lead to a stronger economy. When our outsourced members have more disposable income, they tend to spend more on goods and services, stimulating demand and encouraging business growth. Additionally, higher wages can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction, which benefits both employees and employers.

3. Improving Quality of Life

By raising the minimum wage, we can significantly improve the quality of life for many of our outsourced members and their families. A higher income allows individuals to afford better housing, healthcare, education, and other necessities, contributing to overall well-being and a more stable society.

4. Conclusion

The push for a minimum wage of £15 per hour is more than a financial issue; it’s a campaign for dignity, fairness, and opportunity. By addressing the challenges faced by our outsourced low-paid members, we can create a more just and prosperous society where everyone has the chance to thrive.

If you want to be part of this campaign, first join UNISON by clicking on the link below

https://join.unison.org.uk/

Once you are a member come along to the Barnet UNISON NSL meeting on Thursday 16 January 2025 at 6.30 pm.

End.

1 2 3 243